My guess based on the size variances between the RAID and the "C Drive" - The OS is not configured to be hot swappable and thus re-installing as long as the RAID is running within the same setup - everything should be fine.

Unplug the power on the RAID array.
Install Windows. Get into Windows and fully set up.
Power down, replug the power for the RAID array.
Power up, enjoy your raid.

Even if I am wrong (and I'm not) this is the safest way to do it, and if anyone has objections to this idea other than it's a waste of time, feel free to pipe up.

I lost a RAID array to the issue I described. I made a topic on this forum, but I can't find it (might have been trimmed?). I lost my Windows install to a USB3 driver issue that corrupted the install. Reinstalled with the RAID array driver present. It read my disks, and then overwrote parts of the drive setting up an install (due to not finding a file system). Just like what we are talking about here.

Unplugged all drives.Installed Win 8 with just the SSD connected, fully updated through Windows Update, and installed all drivers etc from the ASUS download pageReplugged all drives in exactly the same order, booted into Intel RST and seen the following: http://i.imgur.com/inf769z.jpg Which all looks good, so my data is still sat there.

However when I boot into Windows I do not see the array as a drive, and neither do I see the disks in Device Manager, is there something I need to do for Windows to 'Discover' them?

if the data on the array is life and death data, disconnect them while installing windows, reboot, enable the array/controller and let W8 load up drivers for the new controller/raid array and off you go.

I leave my RAID0 array enabled any time I reformat, but its just game data n cache, user files are on my NAS.

in device manager, do you see the RAID controller? if not re-run Scan for hardware changes from the Action menu.you should see something similar to below (but 5 RAID5 devices)

Unplugged all drives.Installed Win 8 with just the SSD connected, fully updated through Windows Update, and installed all drivers etc from the ASUS download pageReplugged all drives in exactly the same order, booted into Intel RST and seen the following: http://i.imgur.com/inf769z.jpg Which all looks good, so my data is still sat there.

However when I boot into Windows I do not see the array as a drive, and neither do I see the disks in Device Manager, is there something I need to do for Windows to 'Discover' them?

Unplugged all drives.Installed Win 8 with just the SSD connected, fully updated through Windows Update, and installed all drivers etc from the ASUS download pageReplugged all drives in exactly the same order, booted into Intel RST and seen the following: http://i.imgur.com/inf769z.jpg Which all looks good, so my data is still sat there.

However when I boot into Windows I do not see the array as a drive, and neither do I see the disks in Device Manager, is there something I need to do for Windows to 'Discover' them?

Go into Disk Manager and see if they are there, they might be 'offline' or need a drive letter assigning to the array.

if the data on the array is life and death data, disconnect them while installing windows, reboot, enable the array/controller and let W8 load up drivers for the new controller/raid array and off you go.

I leave my RAID0 array enabled any time I reformat, but its just game data n cache, user files are on my NAS.

People don't really need to do this, he could of easily just left the driver part out of it and installed Windows 8 to the new SSD then installed the drivers. As long as he isn't booting off the RAID array itself, it's fine. You only need to install the drivers during setup if your going to install to the array itself.